Records subpoenaed before preliminary hearing

Attorneys have 1,700+ pages of information on murder case

STERLING -- The court received medical and coroner records by subpoena Thursday, less than two weeks before a preliminary hearing set for a suspect accused of killing a man in his Sterling apartment in December.

The hearing will determine if there's probable cause to continue the case against Roger Archuleta, 64, who could face a life sentence if convicted of the murder of 47-year-old Mikel Haynes. Along with second-degree murder, Archuleta also faces first-degree assault and three habitual charges.

Neither District Attorney Brittny Lewton or Adams County Public Defender Emily Fleischmann, who represents Archuletta, had received many of the case files - like medical records or a pathology report - until this week. Fleischmann, appearing via conference call, said she hadn't seen any of the files up to then.

Lewton said her office was still receiving records, but she has already collected more than 1,700 pages of information, plus seven DVDs and a CD.

Despite this, not much is known about the incident. A gag order has sealed information related to the case.

Officers responded to Archuleta's apartment Dec. 6, 2012, at the Sterling Housing Authority after they received a call about a death in the building.

They found that Haynes had died from trauma to the head.

Lewton told the court in an earlier hearing that Haynes, a U.S. Army veteran, and Archuleta appeared to be friends and that Archuleta may have been letting Haynes stay with him at his apartment. Investigators found blood and alcohol bottles in the apartment, she added, but no weapons were mentioned.

Advertisement

Information is still coming in, but Fleischmann told the court there would be enough time for Archuleta to review the information before his hearing March 6.

Lewton said Haynes's family will be in town for the hearing, as well.

She hasn't made Archuleta a plea offer, but she said she would within the next week. She or Fleischmann would need to notify the court by 3 p.m. today if the date needs to be changed.

RE-1 Valley School District has announced its policy for determining eligibility of children who may receive free and reduced price meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.
Full Story